Inking device for value printing meters



Aug. 12, 1958 F. w. UTHENWOLDT El'AL 2,845,945

INKING DEVICE FOR VALUE PRINTING METERS Filed May is, 1956 aSheets-Sheet 1 7311 NTORS y 11 gj AT'T ode NE-Y Aug. 12, 1958 F. w.UTHENWOLDT EI'AL 5.

INKING DEVICE FOR VALUE PRINTING METERS I I Filed May 13. 1956 ISShets-Sheei; s

' I INVENTORS J 7 fiear/cl Mufkeflw/di 1 MY/iam 544% ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent INKING FOR PRINTING METERS Frederick. W. Uthenwoldt,Glenbrook, and John William Bach, Stamford, 'Conn., 'assignors'toPitney-Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn., a corporation of DelawareApplication May-18, .1956, SeriahNo. 585,684

Claims. '(Cl. 101-91) This invention relates-to postage. or other valueprinting; and especially. to the provisionyof an improved inkingarrangement for-cooperation with :the rotary printing drum on theremovable :meter section -of= .a-. value printing machine.

In postage printing and similar valu'e printing machines it is customaryto provide a base element which includes the-,idriving mechanism andvariousmther parts of the deviceenot related to the, valuecontrol, andameter which is, rernova'bly mounted; on thewbaseand which includes the-printingpdrumwith a value .printingdie thereon, and means forregistering thenamountof value still remaining. for use; bythe printingdrum. The meter is sealed so 'that its mechanism or settings cannot betampered with, andqis made. removable so that it can be easily carried.to: the ,proper'otficial; -:e.- g. a post office representative, for.the application of additional value to the meter settings when required.

In order to make the meter as-sma'll. andlight as possible, it is;desirable to have the inking mechanism mounted on the base with theinking roller projecting fromdts housingthrough a suitable openingin-themeter housing and into contact with the printingdrum. HOW- eyer,with this arrangement .of parts, removal of the meter leaves the inkingroller exposed in a position where the operatorshands or clothing maycomeinto contact with it or upon removing the meter, the inking rollermight wipeagainst; the meter housing and the ink would/trans- :fertoanything contacting therewith.

it is, therefore, an dbjectrof the present invention to provide avalue-printing device inwhich the inking roller iswithdrawnto-a;protected or concealed position as an incident-to-removalrof themeter from the base.

Another. object of the invention 'is the provision of means forautomatically retracting the inking roller to protected position whenthe control handle which locks the meter to the-base, orwhich releasesthe meter from its lockedconnection with the base, is operated in meterreleasing'direction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inking rollerwhich is readily demountable for center filling.

Still'another object of; the invention is the provision, in connectionwith the inking drum retraction means, of an adjustable stop for settingtheinking roller, when in operative position, in a location to have thedesired degreeof 'engagement'with the printing die. 7

In the drawings: apreferred form of the invention is shown, wherein:

Fig. l is a partial plan of a value-printing meter according to theinvention with the meter locked in place on a basesupport and with theinking roller inoperative position, the inker cover being open, andparts being broken away to show inner operatingelements;

Fig. 2'isa plan view similar to Fig. v1 butto .a reduced scale 1 and,showing. the meter control handle; in a released roller retracted;

Patented Aug. 12, 1958 Fig. 3- is a section taken substantially on line33 of' Fig. 1.;

Fig. 4 is a section, to a reduced scale, :ta'ken substan tially on line44 of Fig. 1, but showing the parts in Referring to the drawings indetail, a value printing. device, here shown in the form of a postageprinter 11,

includes a base B and a meter M removably mounted thereon. Themeter Mincludes a rotary printingdrum 13 carrying a value printing die 15driven by any suitable means from a prime mover (not shown) in the baseB, and cooperating with an impression roller 16 rotatable in the base Badjacent the printing position. The meter M further includes meansyforregistering the amount of postage or other value impression used, or.still available for use, for example by register wheels 17 in windows19; Mechanism responsive to the reading of.

these wheels causes the meterto cease printing when the, initially setamount is used up. The meter housingis, of course, sealed in a knownmanner so that a new setting can be made only-by an authorized person oragency, e. g. a post oifice official.

In order that the meter M may be removed from the.

base B for ready transport to the settingagency, there.

is provided in the base B a locking control lever 21 pivoted at 23 anddrivingly associated with gear. sector.- 25 which meshes with a sector27. The sector 27 in.

turn rotates a post 29 which is rotatable in the base. B.

and projects upwardly into the lower portion ofthe.

meter M. The upper end'of the post 29 carries .a tongue 31 which mesheswith asuitable mating part (notshown); on the meter M. The matingpartand the meter carried mechanism driven thereby are of conventionalnature;

and serve in a known manner to perform thefunctions of locking the meteron the base or. unlocking it. for removal therefrom, and simultaneouslyperforming various other necessary operations such as unlocking. the.printing drum for printing rotation or locking it against rotationpreparatory to meter removal.

Adjacent the printing drum13 the housing ofthe meter M is provided withan opening 33 just large enough to.- receive an inking roller .35 whichprojects therethrough into position to come into contact with the die 15as, the printing drum 13' rotates. an upwardly standing, housing portionB on the base B,

through an opening 37 provided for the purposev and positioned to beopposite the opening 33 when themeter M is-in place. The end of thehousing portion B which encloses the inking mechanism is provided with ahinged cover 39 which may be opened to provideaccess to the;

inking mechanism, and isheld in open or closed. position. as desired bydetent spring 41.

Pivoted at one endon a pin 43 afiixed toaportion, of. the base B is aninker carrying lever 45 which extends across-the base B and carries theinking roller 35 on its other end; The mounting for the inking rollerincludes. complementary elongate relatively slidable guide elements, oneof which is an upright pin 47 which extends generally in-a transaxialdirection with respect to the printing drum. 13. The pin 47 is alsocanted slightly away from. the opening 37, preferably by bending theportion of the 5).. Theotherguide elementis a support sleeve 51 whichThe roller 35 projects from.

has a free sliding fit on the pin 47 and is held in place thereon by adetent element 53 engaging in a suitably located groove 55 in the pin47. Depending from the sleeve is a yoke 57 between the arms of which theinking roller 35 is rotatably carried. The arms of yoke 57 are providedwith guiding surfaces 59 so positioned that they approach but do notquite fit the edge of the lever 45 snugly as seen at 61, Figs. 3 and 5.Hence a slight rocking movement of the sleeve 51 on pin 47 is permittedto allow the inking roller 35 to adjust itself for equalizing itspressure across the face of the printing die.

The end of the inker carrying lever 45 adjacent the inking roller 35 isprovided with a slot 63 which receives the shouldered and headed screw65 for holding the lever against the base and guiding the lever in itsrocking motion. An upstanding ear 67 on the same end of the lever 45carries a nut 69 into which is threaded an adjustable stop screw 71having an operating knob 73 and a tip 74 for engagement with a wall ofthe housing B. A lock nut 75 on screw 71 serves to preserve itsadjustment when completed. A spring 77 acting between the wall of thehousing B and the knob 73 of the screw 71 urges the lever 45 towards theright in'Figs. l, 2 and 3, that is in a direction to move the inkingroller 35 towards the surface of the printing die 15. By adjusting thescrew 71 via knob 73 the degree of contact between the inking roller andthe printing die can be accurately adjusted to the desired value forproper inking.

An intermediate portion of the edge of the lever 45 provides a strikingsurface 79, against which impinges a pin 81 upstanding on an arm 83integral with locking control lever 21 and gear sector 25 for movementof the lever 45 in concert with the movement of lever 21.

Assuming the parts to be in the position of Fig. l, and that it isdesired to remove the meter M, the lever 21 is moved clockwise until itreaches the Figs. 2 position. This rotates post 29 via gear sectors 25,27 and serves to rotate tongue 31 through 90 degrees which, among otherthings, unlocks the meter M from the base B so that it can be removed.At the same time, pin 81 on arm 83 moves into contact with strikingsurface 79 on inker carrying lever 45, and swings the latter to the leftagainst the force of spring 77 as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. This motion ofthe lever 45 Withdraws the inking roller 35 carried thereby from itsposition of projection through openings 33 and 37, back into fullyretracted position within the upper base housing B as seen in Fig. 2.Thus, when the meter M is removed, the inking roller 35 is in aprotected position where the hands or clothing of the operator cannotbecome soiled by inadvertent contact therewith. When the meter M isreplaced, the lever 21 is returned to its Fig. 1 position, thussimultaneously locking it in place by means of tongue 31 and withdrawingpin 81 so that the lever 45 swings back to the right under the influenceof spring 77, carrying the inking roller 35 back through openings 37 and33 and into operative relation with the printing die 15 of meter M oncemore.

While the placing of the meter M on the base B has been described ingeneral terms, it is found especially convenient to have the same makeconnection by vertically directed sockets with suitable verticallydisposed posts (not shown) on the base B, in which case a verticalupward detaching movement and a vertical downward replacing movementwould be used in handling the meter M. The automatic withdrawal of theinking roller 35 would, in this case, facilitate the action to a markeddegree by avoiding conflict between the inking roller 35 and the metercasing adjacent opening 33 during such relative vertical displacementsrequired.

When it is desired to replenish the ink supply on the inking roller 35,this may be accomplished by opening cover 39, grasping the sleeve 51 andpulling it upwardly off the pin 47 by snapping the detent 53 out ofgroove 55. The sleeve 51, yoke 57 and roller 35 come free as a unitwhich may be conveniently handled by sleeve 51. The inking roller 35 ispreferably a porous, absorbent cylinder 84 of felt or the like, mountedon a hollow spindle 85 having a plurality of perforations 87 (Fig. 5).One end of the spindle is closed and the other is open as at 89 in Fig.6. The roller 35 is turned so that the open end 89 of spindle 85projects upwardly and the spout 91 of an ink supply container isintroduced into the open end 89. When suflicient ink has been applied,the same may be uniformly distributed by rolling the roller on arelatively flat surface. The inking roller 35 may then be returned tooperative position by slipping the sleeve 51 back over pin 47 andsnapping it into its initial position As can be seen, especially in Fig.3, the inking roller 35 may be readily removed even though the levers 21and 45 have not been moved to retract the same. The canted position ofpin 47 provides sufiicient leftward horizontal translation in responseto the upward movement of the roller to prevent conflict with thehousing B adjacent the edges of opening 37, or with the housing of meterM adjacent the edges of opening 33.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

What is claimed is:

1. In a value printing device, a base including a hous-' ing; a meterremovably mounted on the base and including a housing situated adjacentthe base housing when in place, and a rotary printing drum therein; aninking roller normally situated partially within the base housing andprojecting through adjacent openings in the base ing a housing situatedadjacent the base housing when in place, and a rotary printing drumtherein; an inking roller normally situated partially within the basehousing and projecting through adjacent openings in the base housing andmeter housing in operative position to make inking contact with theprinting surface of the printing drum; means including a manuallyswingable lever for locking the meter to the base and for unlocking itfor removal therefrom; and means responsive to unlocking movement ofsaid lever for retracting said inking roller into said base housing, andresponsive to locking movement of said lever for returning said inkingroller to operative position.

3. In a value printing device, a base including a housin said meterhousing; a lever swingable on said base and having one end movabletowards and away from said opposed openings; an inking roller carried onsaid one end of said lever and normally situated partially within thebase housing and projecting through said opposed openings in operativeposition to make inking contact with the printing surface of theprinting drum; means including a manually swingable lever for lockingthe meter to the base and for unlocking it for removal therefrom; andmeans responsive to unlocking movement of said manually swingable leverfor swinging said roller carrying lever in a direction to retract saidinking roller into said base housing, and responsive to locking movementof said manually swingable lever for swinging said roller carrying leverin a direction to return said inking roller to operative position.

4. In a value printing device, a base including a housing having anopening; a meter removably mounted on the base and including a housingsituated adjacent the base housing when in place and having an openingopposite the base housing opening; a rotary printing drum in said meterhousing; a lever swingable on said base and having one end movabletowards and away from said opposed openings; an inking roller carried onsaid one end of said lever and normally situated partially within thebase housing and projecting through said opposed openings in operativeposition to make inking contact with the printing surface of theprinting drum; means for locking the meter to the base and for unlockingit for removal therefrom; means responsive to unlocking movement of saidfirst named means for swinging said lever to move said one end away fromsaid openings and thereby retract said inking roller into said basehousing, and responsive to locking movement of said first named meansfor returning said lever to its initial position, and thereby returningsaid inking roller to operative position, said last named meansincluding a spring urging said lever in the direction to move saidroller towards operative position; and an adjustable stop adjacent saidone end of said lever for accurately'setting the degree of engagementbetween said inking roller and said printing drum under the influence ofsaid spring.

5. In a printing device, a rotary printing drum; a first elongate guideelement mounted to one side of said drum and extending in a directiontransaxially of the drum; a complementary guide element slidably relatedto said first guide element and readily removable therefrom; an inkingroller; and means on said complementary guide element rotatably carryingsaid inking roller with its axis transverse to the direction ofextension of said first guide element for inking contact with saidprinting drum.

6. In a printing device, a printing drum rotatable on a substantiallyhorizontal axis; a movable member urged horizontally towards and movableaway from said drum; a first elongate upright guide element on saidmovable member at one side of said drum; a complementary guide elementslidably related to said first guide element and readily removabletherefrom in an upward direction; an

inking roller; and means on said complementary guide element rotatablycarrying said inking roller with its axis extending substantiallyhorizontally for inking contact with said printing drum.

7. In a printing device, a printing drum rotatable on a substantiallyhorizontal axis; a movable member urged horizontally towards and movableaway from said drum; a first elongate upright cylindrical guide elementon said movable member at one side of said drum; a complementarycylindrical guide element slidably and rockably related to said firstguide element and readily removable therefrom in an upward direction; ayoke with depending spaced arms carried by said complementary guideelement; and an inking roller rotatable between said arms with its axisextending substantially horizontally for inking contact with saidprinting drum, said arms having guiding surfaces designed to fitapproximately against a surface of said movable member but fittingloosely enough to permit a slight rocking of said complementary guideelement with respect to said first guide element whereby the inkingroller may align itself accurately with said printing drum.

8. In a printing device, a rotary printing drum; a first elongate guideelement mounted to one side of said drum and extending in a directiontransaxially of the drum; a complementary guide element slidably relatedto said first guide element and readily removable therefrom; an inkingroller; and means on said complementary guide element rotatably carryingsaid inking roller with its axis transverse to the direction ofextension of said first guide element for inking contact with saidprinting drum, said roller comprising a hollow perforate spindle closedat one end and open at the other, and an absorbent cylindrical padsurrounding said spindle, whereby the roller may be reinkecl byWithdrawing the complementary guiding element from said first guidingelement, turning the complementary guiding element so as to dispose theopen end of the roller spindle upwardly, and introducing fluid ink intosaid open spindle end.

9. In a value printing device, a base including a housing having anopening; a meter removably mounted on the base and including a housingsituated adjacent the base housing when in place and having an openingopposite the base housing opening; a rotary printing drum in said meterhousing; a lever swingable on said base and having one end movabletowards and away from said opposed openings; a first elongate guideelement on said one end of said lever; a complementary guide elementslidably related to said first guide element and readily removabletherefrom; an inking roller carried on said complementary guide elementand normally situated partially within the base housing and projectingthrough said opposed openings in operative position to make inkingcontact with the printing surface of the printing drum; means forlocking the meter to the base and for unlocking it for removaltherefrom; and means responsive to unlocking operation of said firstnamed means for swinging said roller carrying lever in a direction toretract said inking roller into said base housing, and responsive tolocking operation of said first named means for swinging said rollercarrying lever in a direction to return said inking roller to operativeposition, said first guide element being canted away from said basehousing opening to permit withdrawal of said complementary guide elementand the attached inking roller even though the meter is locked inposition by said first named means.

10. In a value printing device, a base including a hous ing having anopening; a meter removably mounted on the base and including a housingsituated to one side of the base housing when in place and having anopening opposite the base housing opening; a printing drum in said meterhousing rotatable on a substantially horizontal axis; a first elongateupwardly projecting guide element in said base housing; a complementaryguide element slidably related to said first guide element and readilyremovable therefrom; and means on said complementary guide elementrotatably carrying an inking roller with its axis extending transverselyof the direction of extension of said first guide element, and normallysituated partially within the base housing and projecting through saidopposed openings in the base housing and meter housing in operativeposition to make inking contact with the printing surface of theprinting drum, said first guide element being canted away from saidhousing openings to permit upward withdrawal of said complementary guideelement and the attached inking roller without interference by themargins of the housing walls adjacent the openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,461,934 Pitney July 17, 1923 1,515,359 Pitney Nov. 11, 1924 1,582,039Harrold Apr. 27, 1926 1,596,728 Halliwell Aug. 17, 1926 2,068,307Wheeler Jan. 19, 1937 2,104,624 Royce Jan. 4, 1938 2,152,204 Moore Mar.28, 1939 2,168,457 Strother Aug. 8, 1939 2,237,446 Nilsson Apr. 8, 19412,655,315 Persson Oct. 13, 1953

